Liam Cooper given ‘clues and signs’ as Leeds United summer exit mooted
Paul Robinson believes Liam Cooper could leave Elland Road this summer as the Leeds United defender continues to struggle for game time under Daniel Farke.
The 32-year-old centre-back has made just eight Championship starts this season, with Joe Rodon partnering up with international teammate Ethan Ampadu in defence.
According to the Sunday People, Cooper is desperate to stay at Elland Road but Farke is waiting to see if Leeds can secure promotion to the Premier League.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said: “I think it’s down to his own personal ambitions and goals. We’ve seen a similar situation with Luke Ayling this season. He left during the January transfer window, playing half a season at Middlesbrough.
“Cooper has had limited game time this season but it’s a club that is very close to his heart, especially as a previous club captain. Farke has played Rodon and Ampadu for most of the season, and Pascal Struijk was named captain but he’s been injured, yet Cooper still doesn’t play.
“At the age he’s at, and where he is in his own career, it’ll come down to his ambitions. You get clues and signs as a player. If you’re not playing playing and you’re not part of the plans, you know it won’t be much different next season in the Premier League or Championship.
“If he’s not playing his season, his game time is obviously going to be limited in the next.”
Will Liam Cooper be at Leeds United next season?
With almost 300 appearances for the Whites since August 2014, Cooper has become an integral player at Elland Road over the years, being part of the squad that took Leeds back up to the Premier League.
He could certainly do that again if Leeds were to beat Southampton in the Championship play-off final against Southampton on Sunday 26 May, with just one game separating them from glory.
However, considering the player’s amount of game time this season, it is difficult to see Cooper staying at Elland Road for the foreseeable future, especially when he is still being called up for international duty with Scotland.
In other Leeds news, Archie Gray’s future has been cleared up ahead of next season.
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